Whitehouse Station, N.J. -- Today, Merck & Co., Inc., and the ADAP Crisis
Task Force (ACTF) announced a series of key initiatives to help struggling state AIDS Drug
Assistance Programs (ADAPs) continue to provide people living with HIV access to medicines.
The ACTF is pleased that, among these initiatives, Merck is:

Extending the price freeze of ISENTRESSR that was first established with the ACTF in
2008 to eligible ADAPs through Dec. 31, 2013.

Extending the price freeze on CRIXIVANR (indinavir sulfate) capsules that was first
established with the ACTF in 2003 to eligible ADAPs through Dec. 31, 2013.

Working with the ACTF to provide expanded financial relief to eligible ADAPs through
increased discounts for ISENTRESS and CRIXIVAN.

Expediting the processing of state rebate claims to speed up rebate payments to eligible
ADAPs.

Working with the National Alliance of State and Territorial Directors (NASTAD) to find
solutions to provide technical assistance to ADAP programs.

"On behalf of the nearly two hundred thousand clients that ADAPs serve, we applaud
Merck for its continued commitment to HIV," said Dwayne Haught, manager, HIV Medication
Program for the Texas Department of State Health Services and a spokesperson for the ADAP
Crisis Task Force. "Merck's history of HIV research, along with its responsible pricing and
related efforts to help alleviate the current funding crisis facing ADAPs, is consistent with
Merck's track record of working to help ensure access to treatments such as CRIXIVAN and
ISENTRESS for the people most in need."

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"ADAPs provide crucial support for uninsured and underserved people living with HIV,"
said Patrick Bergstedt, senior vice president and general manager, Merck Infectious Diseases
Franchise. "At Merck we believe that it is important that ADAPs are able to continue to provide
support for as many people that need it, especially given the unprecedented fiscal challenges
confronting many states at this time."

"These actions come at a time when federal funding for ADAPs remains flat and state
funding continues to decrease, making it difficult for the ADAP programs to provide access and
care to the patients they serve," said Lynda Dee, spokesperson for the Fair Pricing Coalition.
"The Fair Pricing Coalition commends Merck for its long-standing commitment to providing
access to treatment and welcomes Merck's new initiatives to help with the current funding
crises."

Expansion of Special Pricing Program for Isentress and Crixivan and Extension of
Price Freeze to Eligible ADAPs through 2013

The ACTF, a group of state ADAP and AIDS directors that is convened by NASTAD,
requested that drug companies consider implementation of cost control measures, such as a
price freeze of HIV drugs to ADAPs to help mitigate the current financial crises. In response,
Merck established an expanded Special Pricing Program for its HIV medicines for eligible
ADAPs. The expanded Special Pricing Programs for ISENTRESS and CRIXIVAN will begin
July 1, 2010 and extend through Dec. 31, 2013. The price freeze extension follows Merck's
earlier agreement with the ACTF in 2008 to freeze the price of ISENTRESS to eligible ADAPs at
its launch price. The extension of its price freeze on CRIXIVAN to eligible ADAPs will also last
through Dec. 31, 2013. When it announced its voluntary price freeze in 2003, Merck was the
first company to freeze the price of an anti-retroviral (ARV) drug to ADAPs. Merck will reassess
these programs in 2014, after implementation of the U.S. government's newly expanded
Medicaid program and subsidized private health insurance plans mandated by health care
reform legislation (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).

Fast Pay of Rebates and Technical Assistance

In addition to the expanded Special Pricing Program for ISENTRESS and CRIXIVAN,
Merck is committed to assisting eligible ADAPs with cash flow and to reducing the number of
patients waiting to receive treatment. As such, the Company has changed its existing state
invoice payment process to accelerate the payment of Merck rebates to eligible ADAPs.

Merck's Patient Assistance Programs in the U.S.

Merck's commitment to patients' access to its products is evidenced through its HIV
SUPPORTTM program, which helps patients who have been prescribed ISENTRESS or
CRIXIVAN by providing personalized support and patient advocacy regarding individual
reimbursement issues. The SUPPORTTM program also offers patient assistance, which may
include providing ISENTRESS or CRIXIVAN free of charge to eligible patients. Information
about the SUPPORT Program can be obtained by calling 1-800-850-3430 or at
www.isentress.com.

Patients who are on ADAP waiting lists or who are awaiting ADAP approval may be
eligible to receive ISENTRESS or CRIXIVAN for free through the SUPPORTTM program.

Merck's Co-Pay Assistance Program

In addition to the SUPPORT Program, Merck has a co-pay assistance program in the
U.S. for eligible patients on ISENTRESS who are commercially insured and have co-pays or
coinsurance above $30, up to $400 per prescription. With this program, eligible patients can
receive savings off their out-of-pocket costs for 12 prescriptions prior to the programs expiration
in July 2011. Information about the co-pay assistance program can be obtained by calling
866-350-9232 or at www.isentress.com.

Important Information About ISENTRESS

ISENTRESS is indicated in combination with other ARV agents for the treatment of
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection in adult patients. This indication is based on
analyses of plasma HIV-1 RNA levels up through 48 weeks in three double-blind controlled
studies of ISENTRESS. Two of these studies were conducted in clinically advanced, 3-class
ARV (NNRTI, NRTI, PI) treatment-experienced adults and one was conducted in treatmentnaive
adults.

The use of other active agents with ISENTRESS is associated with a greater likelihood
of treatment response.

The safety and efficacy of ISENTRESS have not been established in pediatric patients.

Important Safety Information About ISENTRESS

ISENTRESS does not cure HIV or AIDS and does not prevent passing HIV to others.

Healthcare providers should know that immune reconstitution syndrome has been
reported in patients treated with ARV therapy, which may necessitate further evaluation and
treatment.

Creatine kinase elevations were observed in subjects who received ISENTRESS.
Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have been reported; however, the relationship of ISENTRESS to
these events is not known. ISENTRESS should be used with caution in patients at increased
risk of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, such as patients receiving concomitant medication known
to cause these conditions.

In treatment-naive patients receiving ISENTRESS, the most commonly (greater than or
equal to two percent in either treatment group) reported drug-related clinical adverse event (AE)
of moderate or severe intensity and at a higher incidence compared to efavirenz was insomnia
(4 percent vs. 3 percent).

In treatment-experienced patients receiving ISENTRESS, the most commonly (greater
than or equal to 2 percent in either treatment group) reported drug-related clinical AEs of
moderate or severe intensity and at a higher rate compared to placebo were headache (rate of
3-to-1, per 100 patient years), nausea (rate of 2-to-1, per 100 patient years), asthenia/weakness
(rate of 2-to-1, per 100 patient years) and fatigue (rate of 2-to-1, per 100 patient years).

Dosing and Administration

ISENTRESS is a single 400 mg tablet taken twice daily without regard to food. The
dose of ISENTRESS should be increased during coadmistration with rifampin to 800 mg twice
daily.

Drug Interactions

Coadmistration with strong inducers of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase
(UGT) 1A1 may reduce plasma concentrations of ISENTRESS. Based on the results of drug
interaction studies and the clinical trials data, no dose adjustment of ISENTRESS is required
when coadministered with other ARV agents. Also, preclinical studies show that ISENTRESS is
not metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Important Information About CRIXIVAN

CRIXIVAN, a protease (PRO-tee-ase) inhibitor, in combination with other antiretroviral
agents is indicated for the treatment of HIV infection. This indication is based on two clinical
trials of approximately one year's duration that demonstrated: 1) a reduction in the risk of AIDS-defining illnesses or death; 2) a prolonged suppression of HIV RNA.

CRIXIVAN is not a cure for HIV infection nor does it reduce the transmission of HIV.
CRIXIVAN should only be taken in combination with other drugs for HIV.

Important Safety Information About CRIXIVAN

Concomitant use of CRIXIVAN with the cholesterol-lowering medicines lovastatin,
simvastatin, or rosuvastatin is not recommended. Caution should be exercised if HIV protease
inhibitors, including CRIXIVAN, are used concurrently with atorvastatin. The interaction of
CRIXIVAN with pravastatin and fluvastatin is not known. The risk of myopathy including
rhabdomyolysis may be increased when HIV protease inhibitors, including CRIXIVAN, are used
in combination with these statin drugs.

In patients treated with CRIXIVAN, acute hemolytic anemia, including death in some
patients, and hepatitis, including hepatic failure and death, have been reported. There have
also been reports of hyperglycemia and new onset or exacerbation of preexisting diabetes
mellitus in patients receiving protease inhibitors.

Nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis has occurred in clinical studies in adult patients (12.4 percent;
range across individual trials, 4.7 percent to 34.4 percent) and in pediatric patients (29 percent)
receiving CRIXIVAN. The cumulative frequency of nephrolithiasis events increases with
increasing exposure to CRIXIVAN; however, the risk over time remains relatively constant.
In some cases, nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis has been associated with renal insufficiency or acute
renal failure and pyelonephritis with or without bacteremia. If signs or symptoms of
nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis occur (including flank pain with or without hematuria or microscopic
hematuria), temporary interruption (e.g., 1 to 3 days) or discontinuation of therapy may be
considered. Adequate hydration (at least 48 ounces daily for adults) is recommended in all
patients treated with CRIXIVAN.

Taking CRIXIVAN with any products containing St. John's wort, an herbal supplement, is
not recommended because it has been shown to substantially decrease concentrations of
CRIXIVAN and may lead to loss of virologic response and possible resistance to CRIXIVAN or
to the class of protease inhibitors.

Dosage, Administration and Drug Interaction for CRIXIVAN

The recommended dosage of CRIXIVAN is 800 mg (usually two 400 mg capsules) orally
every 8 hours. CRIXIVAN must be taken at 8 hour intervals and should be administered without
food but with water one hour before or two hours after a meal. CRIXIVAN should not be
coadministered with orally administered midazolam. Caution should be used with
coadministration of CRIXIVAN and parenteral midazolam.

CRIXIVAN is an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 enzymes, CYP3A4. Coadministration of
CRIXIVAN and drugs primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 may result in increased plasma
concentrations of the other drug. Coadministration of CRIXIVAN and other drugs that inhibit
CYP3A4 may result in increased plasma concentrations of CRIXIVAN.

Side effects occurring in 2 percent or more of patients taking CRIXIVAN included: fever,
nausea, nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis, headache, asthenia/fatigue, and anemia.

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